1990 Renault Espace Quadra 4WD
Discussion
W00DY said:
TCEvo said:
Presume that's a Trip Computer on the column below the binnacle?
It's a multi-function computer. It tells the time (as does the digital clock above the heater controls about 6 inches to the left) or which radio frequency/preset you're using. And that's it.Do the headlight washers still pop out when they operate? I was always amazed that Renault / Matra made them so wonderfully (and needlessly) complex.
Drive it and make sure it works. The wheels are very cool.
My parents owned a mk1 Laguna. Our mechanic was well aware of the total botch they did getting right hand drive to work, the throttle cable route was fantastically creative. Another Renault “thing” was to have many different parts used for the same model from the same year in the same place depending on which production line ran out of them.
My parents owned a mk1 Laguna. Our mechanic was well aware of the total botch they did getting right hand drive to work, the throttle cable route was fantastically creative. Another Renault “thing” was to have many different parts used for the same model from the same year in the same place depending on which production line ran out of them.
It's broken.
There's no spark and nothing coming from the coil so I've ordered one from ECP which looks similar, but not identical so hopefully that'll sort it.
There's no spark and nothing coming from the coil so I've ordered one from ECP which looks similar, but not identical so hopefully that'll sort it.
EJH said:
It was a trip computer until some point in 1989; when they updated the hifi upgrade, they changed it so it was either time, radio frequency or tape status (from my memories of G448OVR which my parents ran from 1989 until 1994).
Do the headlight washers still pop out when they operate? I was always amazed that Renault / Matra made them so wonderfully (and needlessly) complex.
I will have to check. I love the oddities of it in that way. The driver's window has one-touch up and down, but that's on a separate switch to the standard window control, so there are 3 rocker switches in the driver's door pocket (and 2 blanks on the passenger side)Do the headlight washers still pop out when they operate? I was always amazed that Renault / Matra made them so wonderfully (and needlessly) complex.
W00DY said:
I will have to check. I love the oddities of it in that way. The driver's window has one-touch up and down, but that's on a separate switch to the standard window control, so there are 3 rocker switches in the driver's door pocket (and 2 blanks on the passenger side)
I forgot about the 3 switches in the driver's door! By the next generation of Espace they had mastered putting one shot and variable operation in the same switch!Do the pop-up sunroofs still have their retractable blinds?
Lots of oddities in the Espace; LHD had a proper glovebox in the top of the dash and what's the glovebox in RHD was an open storage space; I assume there's something under the left hand side of the dash which meant it couldn't be mirrored.
W00DY said:
the pedals are offset and quite small
Aaaah, the classic French 'teaspoons'. Once you get used to the pedals on a BMW of similar age the pedals on French and Italian pedals seem comically small and totally unsuited to anything much bigger than a size 8 shoe size. I remember the last time I drove one, it took me an hour or so to stop the unintentional heel & toeing. EJH said:
I forgot about the 3 switches in the driver's door! By the next generation of Espace they had mastered putting one shot and variable operation in the same switch!
Do the pop-up sunroofs still have their retractable blinds?
Lots of oddities in the Espace; LHD had a proper glovebox in the top of the dash and what's the glovebox in RHD was an open storage space; I assume there's something under the left hand side of the dash which meant it couldn't be mirrored.
Still got the blinds, although the front sunroof has been badly sealed up, hoping I might be able to free it and make it water tight too.Do the pop-up sunroofs still have their retractable blinds?
Lots of oddities in the Espace; LHD had a proper glovebox in the top of the dash and what's the glovebox in RHD was an open storage space; I assume there's something under the left hand side of the dash which meant it couldn't be mirrored.
Another quirk is the fact that the door key is different to the ignition key. I just thought mine must have had the locks swapped, but no that's how they came from the factory. Brilliant.
W00DY said:
Still got the blinds, although the front sunroof has been badly sealed up, hoping I might be able to free it and make it water tight too.
Another quirk is the fact that the door key is different to the ignition key. I just thought mine must have had the locks swapped, but no that's how they came from the factory. Brilliant.
Yep; another quirk I had forgotten until now! I seem to remember a rhombus-shaped door key and the ignition key (avec plip) was a much smaller blade.Another quirk is the fact that the door key is different to the ignition key. I just thought mine must have had the locks swapped, but no that's how they came from the factory. Brilliant.
Your car also looks (I think from photos of the front of the cabin) to have the rear over-mat which I remember my father muttering about the cost of and being a pain to smooth out (although this is a pretty dim memory, being 29 years ago).
Woody - thank you so much for sharing this.
I've stated on this forum before - the Mk1 Espace is one of my all time favourite cars!
I was the first car I drove - D482HUA, my Dads Mk1 which replaced a Ford Sierra in about 94-ish?
His was the pre-facelift (unlike yours) in the 'launch' spec of Orangey-Red over Brown. The lower half was a lovely textured type finish. With the light sandy coloured interior, yellow fogs, chin spoiler, 2000 GTX (2 litre petrol, 2wd version).
It was a dead ringer for this -
I've text him to see if he has any photos I can share!
I've stated on this forum before - the Mk1 Espace is one of my all time favourite cars!
I was the first car I drove - D482HUA, my Dads Mk1 which replaced a Ford Sierra in about 94-ish?
His was the pre-facelift (unlike yours) in the 'launch' spec of Orangey-Red over Brown. The lower half was a lovely textured type finish. With the light sandy coloured interior, yellow fogs, chin spoiler, 2000 GTX (2 litre petrol, 2wd version).
It was a dead ringer for this -
I've text him to see if he has any photos I can share!
AppleJuice said:
What a find! 
Do your front seats swivel?
Yep. Can't see when I'm going to use it, but nice that it's there. Do your front seats swivel?snotrag said:
Woody - thank you so much for sharing this.
I've stated on this forum before - the Mk1 Espace is one of my all time favourite cars!
I was the first car I drove - D482HUA, my Dads Mk1 which replaced a Ford Sierra in about 94-ish?
His was the pre-facelift (unlike yours) in the 'launch' spec of Orangey-Red over Brown. The lower half was a lovely textured type finish. With the light sandy coloured interior, yellow fogs, chin spoiler, 2000 GTX (2 litre petrol, 2wd version).
It was a dead ringer for this -
I've text him to see if he has any photos I can share!
Oooh those launch spec cars look fantastic! I do love the early ones and would be great to see some photos.I've stated on this forum before - the Mk1 Espace is one of my all time favourite cars!
I was the first car I drove - D482HUA, my Dads Mk1 which replaced a Ford Sierra in about 94-ish?
His was the pre-facelift (unlike yours) in the 'launch' spec of Orangey-Red over Brown. The lower half was a lovely textured type finish. With the light sandy coloured interior, yellow fogs, chin spoiler, 2000 GTX (2 litre petrol, 2wd version).
It was a dead ringer for this -
I've text him to see if he has any photos I can share!
I'll pester him for some photos.
I remember some of the issues which you may want to look at -
Check the clutch pedal up under the column - I remember the clutch getting heavier and heavier until it eventually failed - but the actual faut was the steel pedal arm/assembly had failed - over time, the pedal was fatiguing until it eventually snapped.
Required lots of disassembly and welding up.
In deepest darkest rural France during biblical rain, I remember the car packing up big time - luckily a local Monsieur was able to help and knew the fault - the ECU was I seem to recall located very poorly, low down in the direct path of spray from one of the front wheels.
The 'fix' was to remove it, dry it out and re-install wrapped in a weather proof casing. AKA a cut up Ice cream tub and silicone sealant.
I remember some of the issues which you may want to look at -
Check the clutch pedal up under the column - I remember the clutch getting heavier and heavier until it eventually failed - but the actual faut was the steel pedal arm/assembly had failed - over time, the pedal was fatiguing until it eventually snapped.
Required lots of disassembly and welding up.
In deepest darkest rural France during biblical rain, I remember the car packing up big time - luckily a local Monsieur was able to help and knew the fault - the ECU was I seem to recall located very poorly, low down in the direct path of spray from one of the front wheels.
The 'fix' was to remove it, dry it out and re-install wrapped in a weather proof casing. AKA a cut up Ice cream tub and silicone sealant.
snotrag said:
I'll pester him for some photos.
I remember some of the issues which you may want to look at -
Check the clutch pedal up under the column - I remember the clutch getting heavier and heavier until it eventually failed - but the actual faut was the steel pedal arm/assembly had failed - over time, the pedal was fatiguing until it eventually snapped.
Required lots of disassembly and welding up.
In deepest darkest rural France during biblical rain, I remember the car packing up big time - luckily a local Monsieur was able to help and knew the fault - the ECU was I seem to recall located very poorly, low down in the direct path of spray from one of the front wheels.
The 'fix' was to remove it, dry it out and re-install wrapped in a weather proof casing. AKA a cut up Ice cream tub and silicone sealant.
Cheers, will keep an eye, I'd read about the clutch, but mine seems alright for now. I've purchased a Haynes book of lies in theI remember some of the issues which you may want to look at -
Check the clutch pedal up under the column - I remember the clutch getting heavier and heavier until it eventually failed - but the actual faut was the steel pedal arm/assembly had failed - over time, the pedal was fatiguing until it eventually snapped.
Required lots of disassembly and welding up.
In deepest darkest rural France during biblical rain, I remember the car packing up big time - luckily a local Monsieur was able to help and knew the fault - the ECU was I seem to recall located very poorly, low down in the direct path of spray from one of the front wheels.
The 'fix' was to remove it, dry it out and re-install wrapped in a weather proof casing. AKA a cut up Ice cream tub and silicone sealant.
£28 worth of Chinese built coil from ECP has the Espace running again. Lovely.
The heart of the Espace:
Yes the previous coil was only held on with two bolts and I don't have any suitable, but I will get another couple just in case.
W00DY said:
Good to see how much love there is for the old bus! I too remember when Espaces were common, but now I believe we don't even get one over here.
Here's some interior pics. Check out the amplifier with equalizer functions above the stereo and the on board computer above the steering wheel
There are many strange features, but this whole stalk is pretty odd. Luckily, it does have a full book pack, despite 3 MOT certificates being the only other history I have.
To drag this back - why on earth don't more cars have the helicopter style hatching on the rev counter! Danger zone? Yes please! Here's some interior pics. Check out the amplifier with equalizer functions above the stereo and the on board computer above the steering wheel
There are many strange features, but this whole stalk is pretty odd. Luckily, it does have a full book pack, despite 3 MOT certificates being the only other history I have.
Also, those floor mats look pretty damn good for originals!
-01SQ- said:
To drag this back - why on earth don't more cars have the helicopter style hatching on the rev counter! Danger zone? Yes please!
Also, those floor mats look pretty damn good for originals!
Haha, it is a great little bit of design.Also, those floor mats look pretty damn good for originals!
The floor mats are so good I'm starting to believe the odometer (that and the MOT history which shows it has done very few miles in the last 10+ years). It has just this week spun past 90k.
Nowhere to hold your Important business meeting or perhaps your picnic is about to be ruined by the weather? Don't worry, the Espace has you covered:
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